Huh, not so cool after all

[dvandom]

A lot of SF in the 1970s involved the idea of global cooling, that we might be going into a new ice age (or just continuing with the previous one, which never really ended). It was prevalent enough that kiddie-SF picked up on the trope.

Turns out scientists didn't take it seriously for more than an eyeblink, if ever.

Comments

[shaenon.livejournal.com]

I've got a Time/Life science book from 1974 that includes an article on global cooling. Of course, it also includes an article on experiments to determine whether gerbils have ESP. (Yes, of course that's why I salvaged it from the sidewalk.)

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Don't be silly, gerbils don't have ESP. That's why you have to splice their genes to GIVE them ESP.

[wtimmins.livejournal.com]

Well, the ice age is already here... it never ended. Which, dvandom, you mention, but it's a pet peeve so I must beat my chest:

This drives me nuts with science programs, which really should know better.

The ice age has lasted several million years; what is called ice ages in a smaller sense are, more properly, glaciations within the ice age.

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

As long as we don't get Ice Age 3. One sequel was too much. :)